Hammer safety lock for firearms



Aug. 8, 1961 c. E. CARRIGAN HAM/1ER SAFETY Lox FOR FIREARMs Filed Aug. l, 1960 IN V EN TOR. 674,64 fef/A/y This invention relates to a safety lock for firearms, and has particular applicability to revolvers, but may also be employed with other types of firearms which are actuated by hammers.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a key actuated lock for the hammer of a revolver or the like which, when in locked position, positively precludes the firing of the gun either by dropping or accidental jarring, or by pulling the trigger.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a lock which may be readily released by a partial turn of the key to render the reann in operative condition, this being effected much more rapidly than loading an unloaded gun, for example.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device which will render a firearm inoperable, so that it may be safely left in an accessible position, Where it might be reached by children, or other unauthorized individuals, it being impossible to discharge the weapon until the same is unlocked.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter, and disclosed in the accompanying Vdrawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of one form of firearm, illust-ratively a revolver, equipped with the safety lock of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the revolver of FIG. 1, showing one of the side plates of the butt removed.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, there is generally indicated at a revolver, which comprises the conventional barrel l1, cylinder 12, butt .13, trigger 14, and trigger guard 15. A hammer 16 pivotally mounted on a pin 17 is also provided and operates in the conventional manner when the safety lock of the instant invention, to be more fully described hereinafter, is unlocked.

The butt 13 incorporates the usual hollow frame member 18 and the side butt plates 19 which are secured in 2,994,981 Patented Aug. 8, 1961 position in the conventional manner by means of a screw 20. A hammer spring 21, also of conventional design, engages in a notch 22 in the underside of the hammer, and serves to bias the hammer toward tiring position. The underside of the hammer 4is also provided with the shoulder 24, which is adapted to be engaged in locked position by a rigid locking pin or nger 25, which is mounted on a rotatable sleeve 26. The sleeve 26 is mounted on a conventional tumbler type lock barrel 27, which includes a head 28 which is rigidly affixed in one of the butt plates 19. The sleeve 26 has aiiixed thereto at the end opposite the head 2S, a head 29, which contains a key opening Sti, which is adapted for the reception of a key which, when turned, will release the sleeve 26 from its engagement with the tumblers of the lock barrel Z7, and permit the locking member 25 to move to the dotted line position as shown in FIG. 2. With the locking pin 25 in the position shown in dotted lines, the gun may be operated in a conventional manner. However when the lock is given a partial turn by means of a suitable key to move the pin to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2, it will be impossible to retract the sammer 16, and consequently impossible to lire the weapon.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved safety lock for iirearms which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In a rearm having a hammer, a butt including a hollow butt frame and butt plates, said hammer having an arcuate undersurface formed with a notch therein, and a hammer spring in said hollow butt frame engaging in said notch, a safety locking device comprising a shoulder on said arcuate undersurface, a locking pin engaging said shoulder, and key actuated means for moving said pin into locking and unlocking position, said last-mentioned means including a rotatable sleeve extending across said hollow frame, said pin being secured to said sleeve, and a Xed tumbler lock barrel in said sleeve, said key actuated means releasing said tumbler lock barrel to permit rotation of Said sleeve, said barrel having a head fixed in one of said butt plates, and said sleeve having a head with a keyhole therein rotatable in the opposite butt plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 447,219 Weeks et al. Feb. 24, 1891 633,939 Ackerman Sept. 26, 1899 792,382 Allen June 13, 1905 2,945,316 Mulno Iuly 19, 1960 

